by Eric W. Austin

On the afternoon of Sunday, March 17, I parked in a puddle across from the China Baptist Church on Causeway Road. The day was cold and gray, but notably, China Lake was almost entirely free of ice, marking an unusually warm and (mostly) snow-sparse midwinter in Maine.

I was attending a memory-session at the Baptist church, organized by the China Historical Society, dedicated to reminiscing about winters past. Inside, several tables were set up with historic items brought by attendees or provided by the historical society, alongside a collection of photos. My attention was captured by a photo of an old-fashioned rail engine buried in the snow, with several men shoveling it out.

Bob Bennett, a member of the society, explained that the photo depicted one of the engines from the narrow-gauge railway that once connected China, Albion, and Branch Mills. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, this railway was a bustling conduit for passengers and goods (mostly milk and potatoes). (Incidentally, Bob Bennett has plans for a tour of the narrow-gauge railway this summer, and interested individuals are encouraged to contact him or the society to reserve a spot.)

The session began with an old film recently digitized by the historical society, showing ice harvesting on China Lake. The film was grainy and silent, which left me wishing for a lively piano soundtrack to accompany the visuals.

Ron Morrell, who moderated the discussion along with Scott McCormac, then invited the audience, comprising about two dozen residents, to share their memories. The conversation turned to the scale of ice harvesting on China Lake and the Kennebec River, where over 40 operations would take place each winter. The ice was cut with large saws and stored in sawdust-packed houses near the water.

A few attendees shared fond childhood memories of playing in the sawdust. One story, told by Harold Charles, involved two sisters who got back at their bothersome older brother by burying him up to his neck in sawdust at a local ice house.

Questions about the longevity of the stored ice led to discussions about the sawdust from local sawmills in Vassalboro, which was essential for preserving the ice all year. The conversation also touched on Maine’s ice being exported as far as Africa and the cobblestones used as ballast for the returning ships, which contributed to many of New England’s cobblestone roads and walkways.

The China Historical Society’s call for more winter photos from residents was highlighted, with a promise to digitize and return any photos shared.

Following this, Harold Charles read from a diary entry or letter from the 1940s or ’50s, which included amusing advice on predicting the severity of the coming winter based on observations of corn husks, onion skins, and the behavior of squirrels.

The discussion also covered memorable difficult winters, with Neil Farrington recalling skating through fields after an ice storm, and another resident reminiscing about the town’s post-New Year’s Christmas tree bonfires.

A brief slideshow showcased images from China, South China, and Branch Mills, with one resident explaining the purpose of wooden planks laid along the sidewalks to avoid the mud, due to the unpaved roads of the time.

The session wrapped up with anecdotes about E.B. White, known for Charlotte’s Web, who once spent a night in China, and reminiscences about the challenges of keeping warm in older times.

The event was documented by Tom Parent, with photos and audio recordings soon to be available from the China Historical Society. To join the society, a nominal membership fee of $10 (for individuals) is required.

by Bob Bennett

Many of we older Mainers spent much of our winters as kids outside, sliding down long hills on toboggans and other “vehicles” with runners. In some parts of our state, especially along the Downeast coast, one of the more widely seen sleds was known as a Cape Racer. While I haven’t found much information on these versions, the China Historical Society recently acquired one and it seems to be a true rarity. And, there are some ties to China. A quick look at those links starts us off.

Long-time China resident and antiques collector Dave Davis purchased the sled from a dealer in Searsport years ago. He says he did so because it was the longest version he had seen. It spent a long time in Dave’s garage and then emerged when he sold his house several years ago. The buyer, Bill Wahlfield, brought the sled outside a couple of summers ago and I first saw it in the grass next to his wood pile, and then supporting a newly planted tree. Bill had no idea of its function and I spent a fair amount of time trying to discover its use. It was obviously some kind of ice or snow vehicle due to its runners, but it was very long, about eight feet, and very narrow. Then, I ran into Mr. Davis at the South China Post Office a few weeks ago and he cleared up the mystery. It is a Cape Racer.

According to the information I found on line, this unique sled was first designed by a man named Martin Van Buren Gray, born in Brooksville, Maine in 1832. It apparently was named for Cape Rosier which is located near Blue Hill. The sled was later patented by a Percy Perkins who built a number of them and even sold some to Sears Roebuck in Boston. The sled was quite popular in the Hancock County area of Maine.

In an article published by the Deer Isle-Stonington Historical Society, a local named Monty Small wrote about his childhood sledding experiences and spoke well of the Cape Racer. “Some kids had store-bought Flexible Flyers, and some had homemade bobsleds that had two small sleds, one front and one rear, with a long plank in between. It would hold four or five kids, depending on the length of the plank. You steered with the front sled; usually with grab handles on the sled. My favorite sled was a “Cape Racer,” and lots of kids had one. Lyndon “Ham” Gross lived on the hill, and he had a real fast one named “Queenie.”

I always understood that this type sled was originally developed over in Cape Rosier, thus the name Cape Racer. They were indeed fast. They were made with two angled wooden side rails having polished steel runners. The rails were joined by a series of dowels set into the rails, and these are what you laid down on to slide. You crossed your arms in front of you and pulled up on the right rail to go right and left rail to go left. You also used a little body motion to help turn.” From other comments, much of these kids’ riding seems to have been on snow covered roads.

The donated sled generally matches Monty’s description. The dowels he mentioned that held the runners in position are actually steel rods, some threaded on each end and screwed into the runner supports. There is about two inches of “side-play” to both left and right that would have allowed some steering ability. The racer will ultimately be displayed in or museum and while it likely will not ever travel in the snow it is certainly a piece of history.

CORRECTION: In the March 21, 2024, issue of The Town Line, the Cape Racer was misidentified. The Cape Racer is the object on the left (in the picture above). Center is a 1960s “flying saucer” like sled, and the right is a traditional flex sled. It was an editing error.